How to Write a Successful NIH Career Development Award (K Award)

1. How to Write a Successful NIH Career Development Award (K Award) Mark H. Roltsch, PhD Assistant Vice President for Research Director of Research and Sponsored Programs

2. Why Me? • NHLBI – Scientific Review Office from 2005-10 lead over 65 Review Session from K to R01 to Clinical Trails to Contract Reviews • Conducted 18 K award Review Session • Reviewed over 500 K awards • NHLBI -2010 – 12 Program Officer, Office of Research Training and Career Development, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences – Managed 200+ grants F, K, & T

3. Goals • To provide an overview of career development, progression, and advancement. • To educate course participants about the various K mechanism. • Tips to write a successful K Award. • Develop a timeline for completion of the grant. • Common pitfalls.

4. Research Projects Training & Career Dev. Fellowships Centers Cooperative Agreements What’s the Right Type of Grant?Talk to NIH! Types of Award Mechanisms: http:/grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm!

5. Career Stages of Funding Programs

6. MentoredCareerAwards • Mentored Research Scientist Development (K01) • Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) • Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development (K23) • Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) • Mentored Faculty Diversity Award/Minority Serving Inst. (K01) (RFA) FEATURES Duration - 5 years max. Mentor - Yes Salary - Up to $100,000 DC Res. Costs - Up to $50,000 DC Renew - No

7. New Investigator Career Awards: Pathway to Independence Mentored Research Scientist Development (K99/R00) “Kangaroo” FEATURES Eligibility: < than 4 yrs post doc Duration - 5 years max. (1-2 years mentoring, 2-3 years independent support) Mentor - Yes Initial period Salary - Up to $100,000 DC Res. Costs - Up to $30,000 DC Independent Award Res. Costs- Up to $249,000 DC Renew - No

8. Important – Institute & Mechanism • Identify the several most likely Institutes for funding based on your specialty/scientific interests • Where is the mentor funded • What institutes have issued PA’s or RFA’s in their area • See what Institute staff attend the same meetings as the potential PI • Read the funding opportunity

9. Check to see what institute supports the PA Check due dates Check purpose and eligibility Dollar amount – K23- NHLBI $100,000 Commitment - 75% time Materials/Supplies/Consultants up to $50,000 Section IV Application and submission Section V Application Review Information Page limits Reading the Program Announcement (PA)

10. Outstanding NIH K Award Grant What’s it take to get funded?

11. What’s it take? • Time? • Ideas? • Candidate? • Mentor? • Training? • Environment?

12. Some Suggestions for PI’s Developing a K award • Match idea to NIH Institute • Select the right K & study the PA • Know every section’s requirements • Read the Review Section • Familiarize yourself with the review process

13. Suggestions Continued • Write the proposal logically and clearly • Work with your mentor • Get others to review your work • Fill out forms completely and correctly • Allow plenty of time to complete the final submission

14. What was the Success Rate for various K Awards in 2004 & 2016? K01, K08, K23, K99? • 10% • 15% • 20% • 25% • 30% • 35% • 40% • Higher

20. Building a Timeline for a K award What is the NIH due date? What is date due to your OSP? What date do you want your first draft finish? Have you considered a schedule for each section? Timeline

21. Candidate’s Background, Career Goals & Objectives, Candidate’s Plan for Career Development/Training Research Strategy Significance Preliminary Studies Approach – address each aim, methods, outcomes Conclusion Training in Responsible Conduct of Research (1 p.) Plans & Statement of Mentors – 6 pages Working on Sections of the K (12 pages)

22. Institutions commitment to candidates research development (1 page) Description of Institutional Environment (1 page) Letters of Reference Protection of Human Subjects Inclusion of – Women, Children Vertebrate Animals Biohazards Working on Sections of K awards

23. Overall Impact Candidate Career Development Plan/Career Goals and Objectives Research Plan Mentor(s), Co-Mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s) Environment & Institutional Commitment Additional Criteria Review Criteria for NIH K Award

24. Seek active input from your mentor and senior investigators Contact your Academic Research Office on campus early in the process Get to know a Program Officer Review the “entire application” with the mentor and others Plan ahead (the process can take 4-6 months) HELPFUL HINTS

25. Lack of well thought out research or training plans Weak or absent hypothesis Poor presentation (figures too small, writing errors) Weak institutional support Weak publication history, inexperienced PI Common Problems

26. Mentor: off-site location, unengaged Lack of knowledge of published relevant work Unrealistically large amount of work Uncertainty concerning future career directions Common Problems

27. Choosing the right mechanism How to determine the correct Institute Read the PA*** Application Process Sections and a timeline Helpful Hints Common Problems Summary